Tip of the Tower
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Toronto Raptors: Time to prove that this year is different

By David Morassutti

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 20: Head coach Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors talks with his team in the first half against the Washington Wizards during Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 20, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 20: Head coach Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors talks with his team in the first half against the Washington Wizards during Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 20, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Raptors have allowed the Washington Wizards to get back in the series but now it’s time to show that they can overcome adversity.

There are certainly some fans finding it hard to feel confident with the Toronto Raptors effort the past couple of games on the road but all that can change starting Wednesday evening.

Drake certainly felt confident according to Washington Wizards star John Wall who told ESPN that the “6” God was preaching a four-game sweep. It was hard to blame Drake for his enthusiasm especially after a dominant performance in Game 2.

With all that being said, this is about the players on the court, and right now they seem to be reliving the nightmares of past playoff performances. There has been praise from the media south of the border but there are still doubt from some.

Kyle Lowry said prior to Game 4 that they had to play like it was Game 7, that mentality worked in Game 1 but not on Sunday night. Obviously the injury to Fred VanVleet has an impact on the struggles of the bench mob.

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This was the highlight point in Demar Grant’s latest 6 Revelations breakdown after Game 4. The injury to VanVleet has forced Delon Wright to play more than he normally has and impacted the Raptors defensive game.

It also does not help that OG Anunoby rolled his ankle after injuring it earlier in the season. This certainly impacts the rookie’s effectiveness as he started to regain his confidence shooting from beyond the arc along to go along with his strong defence.

One thing that has been lauded about the Raptors is how deep they run their bench, that means other players need to step up and fill the void.

Obviously, it begins with the starting lineup as DeMar DeRozan is getting back into his old ways of taking more contested shots rather than trust other players on the court.

For Lowry, he has not played terribly but he has yet to make a real difference in this series. Sure he is trying to move the ball more but he’s also passing up on opportunities.

Lowry is trying to show that he does not want to take it all upon himself to get the Raptors back on track. He needs to get involved more than he has especially with Wall and Bradley Beal making their mark on this series.

Jonas Valunciunas is getting less time because of the defensive mismatches created by the Wizards mobility. This is why the Raptors should try to get him involved earlier in the game or try to force Washington into a mismatch.

The Raptors are certainly capable of it but they need to show that everything they did in the regular season wasn’t just for 82 games. Game 2 was a perfect example of how effective they are when they don’t let the attack.

If their deep threats in Lowry, C.J. Miles and even Anunoby if he’s healthy can knock down some crucial three-pointers, it would inspire more confidence in their play.

Next: 6 Revelations from Game 4 loss to Wizards

This series is long from over but the Raptors need to show that they were deserving of the top seed in the East and take away any doubts about their chances.

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